Coordinated Access Specialist

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS: 

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) creates and coordinates services that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents. Driven by the needs of residents, DHSP’s extensive services and programs touch almost every sector in the city: from newborns to senior citizens, from school-aged children to homeless families, from non-profit organizations to local employers.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Reporting to the C-CAN Program Manager, the Specialist will serve a key function within the collaborative, multi-agency Cambridge Coordinated Access Network (Cambridge CAN or C-CAN), both directly administering assessments to clients at intake, and serving on a team of dedicated C-CAN staff working to organize and coordinate assessments, referrals, and communications among partners. This role focuses on the outreach and beginning stages of the housing process and works collaboratively with the C-CAN team to help guide clients through the greater C-CAN pipeline. The Specialist triages individuals in the homeless population and helps support their varied needs. They will be the community-facing arm of the C-CAN team and should be seen as a resource to our residents both unhoused and housed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Coordinated Access Specialist will work on a team of one other Specialist and the C-CAN Program Manager. Many of the duties and the responsibilities will be shared within the team and redistributed as needed to ensure successful function of the Coordinated Access Network.

The Coordinated Access Specialist’s specific duties include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Administer the Cambridge CAN suite of intake, screening, assessment, and referral tools to new clients presenting at the Cambridge Multi-Service Center and other community sites.
• Respond to phone inquiries and walk-ins, referring clients to appropriate services and assessment points as needed.
• Maintain strong knowledge of relevant homeless-specific and mainstream resources to support a wide range of client needs and maintain resource guides that help spread this information widely
• Function as subject matter expert for local shelter and homeless-specific providers, making sure that information is up to date and available to team members.
• Support data collection, entry and integrity efforts across the Continuum of Care (CoC), the group of municipal and nonprofit partners designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness. May be tasked with large data projects when necessary.
• Participate in outreach efforts to community members who are experiencing homelessness multiple times a week at a regular cadence.
• Contribute to CoC-wide strategic/planning efforts by participating in meetings and technical discussions. Bring new ideas and approaches to creative thinking sessions.
• Provide internal technical assistance to Coordinated Access partner agencies on intake, assessment, and prioritization.
• Participate in meetings between C-CAN partner agency staff, including a weekly case conference and operational or program evaluation check-ins.
• Serve as liaison between C-CAN and relevant provider and community partners, including responding promptly to inquiries by phone and email.
• Actively work to improve the level of system access for the full diversity of people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness in Cambridge, as well as to promote a low-barrier Housing First orientation that values equity.
• Develop and carry out outreach strategies to promote Coordinated Access within the CoC and the wider community, including, coordinating events and attending community meetings.
• Improve marketing efforts digitally and in print to increase community awareness and education around C-CAN program and related resources.
• Build close working relationships with shelter agencies and maintain strong communication with their outreach and staff leadership.
• Build document libraries and trainings for housing navigation resources and support community knowledge on important procedures to collect vital documents.
• Purchase and track outreach supplies, keeping an up-to-date inventory and adh